The Official Preppy Handbook

By Lisa Birnbach,

Book cover of The Official Preppy Handbook

Book description

A facetious guide to emulating the look, speech patterns, thinking, and lifestyle of those who attend prep schools and are a part of high society

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Official Preppy Handbook as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I find WASP culture absurd and fascinating. I love that rich people, really rich people, have a fixation with stickers, slapping abbreviations for Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket or East Hampton on their luxury vehicles even though said luxury vehicles, parked in said locales, really should say it all. Such is the taxonomy writ large in Lisa Birnbach’s seminal Preppy Handbook, which explores other WASP signifiers such as “the politics of monogramming,” the elevation of old clothes over new, and what your choice of private schools, charities and vacation spots says about you. Pairs well with Take Ivy, a…

From Maureen's list on American pop culture.

Want books like The Official Preppy Handbook?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Official Preppy Handbook.

Browse books like The Official Preppy Handbook

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in pop culture, pop music, and civilization?

Pop Culture 163 books
Pop Music 49 books
Civilization 222 books